MAXIE SWAIN YOUTH IS ONLY WAY UP

By Mark still has faith his kids will prevail

MARK CLOUGHERTY has vowed to stick to his guns and stand by his young Lisburn Rangers side as they look to halt a worrying run of four straight defeats in the league.

The Stanley Park outfit were on the end of a 6-1 thrashing by league leaders Killyleagh on Saturday, meaning they have now conceded 17 in their last four outings to drop down into 11th place, two points above Dunmurry Rec in the drop zone.

Despite their difficulties, Clougherty was defiantly upbeat as he spoke to Match On Tuesday, pointing to a range of mitigating factors including a lengthy injury list which has deprived him of no fewer than 14 first team players over recent weeks.

It’s a predicament compounded by the fact his squad is almost entirely new to 1A and having to learn on the job.

Even so, the former Glentoran reserve team boss is adamant he retains full faith in his players to salvage something from their season, particularly now that he has a host of players nearing a return to full fitness.

“We’re still feeling positive because we are a young team and we have the spine of a really good team for years to come. It’s just some weeks we are learning the hard way,” explained Clougherty (circled).

“But at other times, they are doing really good things, and that will probably be the pattern for the rest of the season.

“We can go on a run of four games, and then we can lose four games, and then we go on another run of winning them so that’s just the way we are.

“We’ve had 14 players missing over the last couple of weeks but gradually they are starting to come back.

“We have been stretched but I believe in the boys, we just have to knuckle down. We had two squads last year of about 26, 28 players and from last year, there are only six or seven still with the club.

“So with bringing in so many players, we are still finding our level.”

Clougherty found some support from the man who masterminded his team’s defeat on Saturday, with Killyleagh boss Paul Sharvin admitting he was impressed by Lisburn Rangers as he backed them for a top four finish next season, provided they steer clear of danger in the current one.

“Ah, that’s nice to hear,” added Clougherty, “and there are four or five still to come back into the team. If you were watching the game on Saturday, you would have thought we were two different teams.

“If we had have went in at half-time four or five up, no one would have said a word with the amount of chances we created in the first half.

“But in the second half, they had the wind and we were a bit naive. But don’t get me wrong, four of their finishes were smashing goals, four of them were from outside the box so it was just one of those days where when they shot they scored.

“But we showed in the first half we can compete because Killyleagh are sitting top of the league and unbeaten after 13 games.

“Unfortunately, second half with our naivety at being so young, and with their experience, it was the difference.

“But we’re still confident and the boys have got it in them, it’s just with their age you get that inconsistency, but hopefully I can get a few boys in between now and the end of January to strengthen us.”

Indeed, the

Lisburn

Rangers chief is banking on a much stronger squad for the remainder of the season after an injury-plagued first half to the campaign.

His son Rhys returned to goals on Saturday after a twomonth lay-off, former Glenavon centre back Carter Savage was fit enough for a place on the bench after his own spell on the sidelines, as was midfielder Cieran Clougherty – another son – while Mark Lowe and Colm Kirgan are also on the comeback trail.

Meanwhile, Clougherty has been boosted by the signing of former Irish League striker Stephen O’flynn (below), with the ex-crusaders, Glentoran and Ballinamallard ace poised to make his debut when the Gers resume their league campaign on Saturday week against Comber.

“I know Stevie well, I was at Glentoran when he was there. He played a few times for me in the reserves and things like that so we managed to talk him out of semi-retirement so he will play for us when he’s available to play,” said Clougherty.